Accident proof, tamper proof boat drain plug

ABSTRACT

This device is a boat transom drain hole plug that is accident proof and tamper proof, at least against a single individual in that it takes the cooperation of at least two individuals to remove this plug. It comprises a pair of apertured, flanged adapters fitting in opposite sides of the boat transom drain hole and held in position by a threaded bolt therethrough and an elastic stop nut threaded thereon. The cylindrical portions of the adapters fit snugly within the drain hole, or within the metal sleeve lining the drain hole, if one is present. O-rings are set in and at least slightly extend from circumferential recesses in each cylindrical portion to seal against the drain hole wall or the metal sleeve lining the drain hole wall. To prevent any possible leakage through the adapter apertures, the bolt is also provided with a sealing O-ring extending slightly from a cylindrical recess in the bolt stem adjacent the bolt head, and a washer may be used between the elastic stop and the adjacent flange of the adjacent adapter. As thus set up, the drain plug cannot possibly loosen accidentally, and it can not be removed or vandalized by a single individual. It takes two individuals, one inside and one outside the boat to install or remove this boat drain hole plug.

[ Mar. 19, 1974 United States Patent [191 McRae ACCIDENT PROOF, TAMPERPROOF BOAT [57] ABSTRACT This device is -a boat transom drain hole plugthat is accident proof and tamper proof, at least against a sin- DRAINPLUG [76] Inventor: Thomas Earle McRae, 18150 Oleta Dr.,North MiamiBeach, Fla. 33160 gle individual in that it takes the cooperation of atleast two individuals to remove this plug. It comprises [22] Flled' 1973a pair of apertured, flanged adapters fitting in opposite [21] Appl.No.: 354,951 sides of the boat transom drain hole and held in positionby a threaded bolt therethrough and an elastic stop nut threadedthereon. The cylindrical portions of the adapters fit snugly within thedrain hole. or within the metal sleeve lining the drain hole, if one ispresent. O-rings are set in and at least slightly extend fromcircumferential recesses in each cylindrical portion to seal against thedrain hole wall or the metal sleeve lin- [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS ing the drain hole wall. To prevent any possible leakagethrough the adapter apertures, the bolt is also provided with a sealingO-ring extending slightly from a cylindrical recess in the bolt stemadjacent the bolt head, and a washer may be used between the elasticstop and the adjacent flange of the adjacent adapter. As thus set up,the drain plug cannot possibly loosen accidentally, and it can not beremoved or vandalized OTHER PUBLICATIONS Boat, Transom Drain Plug,"Donaldson, March 1960.

by a single individual. It takes two individuals, one inside and oneoutside the boat to install or remove this boat drain hole plug.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Primary Examiner-Duane A. Reger AssistantExaminer-Galen Barefoot Attorney, Agent, or FirmGustave Miller ACCIDENTPROOF, TAMPER PROOF BOAT DRAIN PLUG BACKGROUND OF THIS INVENTION In manyareas small boats are removed from the water for storage either docksideor trailered to other storage areas. With conventional drain plugs, theboat may be easily vandalized by a single individual loosening orremoving the drain plug which, if unnoticed by the boat operator, willcause the boat to sink or be damaged next time it is launched.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide adrain hole plug that is accident proof, that cannot accidentally loosen.

A further object of this invention is to provide a boat drain hole plugthat is tamper proof against a single individual.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a boat drain holeplug that provides a tight, leak-proof seal for a boat transom drainhole.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a boat transomdrain hole plug that requires at least two persons to install or removeit.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a boat drain holeplug that can be installed or removed only when the boat is out of thewater.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a boat transomdrain hole plug that has two flanged cylindrical portions that areapertured, that are installed from opposite sides of the transom andheld in sealing position by a bolt inserted therethrough and locked inposition by an elastic stop nut.

A still further object is to provide an improvement over US. Pat. Nos.2,730,062; 2,997,975; 3,188,994; and 3,394,671.

BRIEFDESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONThere is shown at the bottom of a boat having its transom at 12 throughwhich, adjacent the boat bottom 10, as customary, there extends a drainhole 14 which is usually lined with a metal sleeve 16. This invention isa drain hole plug 18.

The drain hole plug 18 consists of a pair of similar I adapters 19 eachconsisting of a cylindrical sealing portion 20 from which extends anenlarged or stepped flange 22. The cylindrical portions 20 are togetherof an axial length not greater than the axial length of the drain hole14, and in practice, is somewhat less in length, so that each axialportion 20 is of an axial length somewhat less than one-half the axiallength of the drain hole. The diameter of the cylindrical portion 20 isapproximately the diameter of the hole 14, or, if the sleeve metallining 16 is present, then the cylindrical portion 20 diameter is thatof the inside wall of the lining 16.

Each cylindrical portion 20 of the adapters 19 is circumferentiallyrecessed at 24 adjacent to its end, and each recess 24 is provided withan O-ring 26 slightly extending therefrom so that when it is insertedinto the hole or sleeve lining, it forms a tight seal against the wallof the hole 14 or lining sleeve 16.

Each adapter 19 is provided with an axial aperture 28 of a diameter tosnugly receive the stem 30 of a bolt 32 having a bolt head 34, the otherend of the bolt stem 30 being threaded at 36 to receive the threads ofan elastic stop nut 38. The elastic stop nut 38 has an O ring 40extending inwardly therein in a position to grip the bolt stem threads36 and make it impossible for the nut to unthread accidentally. Inaddition, the bolt stem 30 is circumferentially recessed at 42 adjacentthe bolt head 34, a distance less than the length of the axial aperture28, and an O-ring 44 extends slightly from this stem recess 42 toprovide a tight leak-proof closure plug 18 in the transom hole 14.

OPERATION OF THE INVENTION The drain plug 18 is made of a pair ofadapters 19 selected to have the diameter of the cylindrical portion 20be the same as that of the transom hole 14, or that of the inner wall ofthe metal lining sleeve 14 if such be present. The added length of thecylindrical portions should be slightly less than, but in no casegreater than, the distance between the inner and outer surfaces of thetransom 12. The adapters 19 are inserted from opposite side of thetransom 12, this being done by two individuals when the boat is out ofthe water. The bolt 32 is inserted through the adapter apertures 28. Awasher 46 is placed over the bolt stem 30 against the outer wall of theadjacent flange 22. The elastic stop nut 38 is threaded and tightenedwith a wrench by one individual on the boat bottom 10 while the bolthead 34 is held by a wrench by a second individual outside to tightenthe bolt 32 and nut 38 and secure the plug 18 in operative position. Dueto the construction and assembly as just described, the plug 18 cannotbe removed by one individual alone either inside or outside the boat,for any attempt to turn either the nut 38 or the bolt head 34 alone willat most turn the entire plug 18 without lossening it, thus preventingvandalism by a single individual. For the same reason, it cannot loosenaccidentally.

ABSTRACT OF THE DRAWING In the drawing, like numbers refer to likeparts, and for the purpose ofexplication, set forth below are thenumbered parts of the improved accident-proof, tamper-proof boat drainplug of this invention.

10 boat bottom 12 boat transom l4 drain hole.

16 metal lining sleeve for 14 18 drain plug 19 drain plug adapters 20cylindrical portion of 19, fitting within 14 22 adapter flange 24circumferential recess in 20 26 O-ring in 24 28 axial aperture in 19, toreceive stem 30 30 stern of bolt 32 32 bolt 34' bolt head 36 threads onstem 30 38 elastic stop nut 40 O-ring in nut 38 42 circumferentialrecess in stem 30 near head 34 44 O-ring in 42 46 washer Although thisinvention has been described in detail, such description is intended asbeing illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may bevariously embodied.

Having thus set forth the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. For use in a boat transom (12) having a drain hole (14); a drain holeplug (18) comprising a pair of apertured (28) adapters (19), one of saidadapters (19) fitting partially into each of the opposite sides of saiddrain hole (14) and also fitting partially against the opposite sides ofthe boat transom (12), a threaded (36) bolt (32) fitted through theadapters (19) in the drain hole (14), and a nut (38) threaded on saidbolt (14) holding said adapters (19) in the drain hole (14), said bolt(32) having its head (34) on one side of the boat transom (l2) and saidthreaded nut (38) being on the other side of the boat transom, wherebysimualtaneous operation on the bolt head (34) and the threaded nut (38)by one individual inside the boat transom (l2) and by another individualoutside the boat transom is necessary to remove the plug (18) from thedrain hole (14 2. The plug of claim 1, said adapters (19) having steppedflanges (22) abutting the outer surfaces of the transom (l2).

3. The plug of claim 1, each said adapter (19) having a cylindricalportion (20) fitting into the drain hole (14), and a stepped flangeportion 22) abutting a surface of the transom (l2).

4. The plug of claim 3, the added lengths of said cylindrical portions(22) being not greater than the thickness of the transom (12) at thedrain hole (14).

5. The plug of claim 4, each cylindrical portion (20) having acircumferential recess (24) and an O-ring (26) in and extending fromsaid recess (24) providing a substantial seal against the drain hole(14) wall.

6. The plug of claim 5, said nut (38) being threaded on said bolt (32)against one flange portion (22), the bolt head (34) abutting against theother flange portion 22), said nut being an elastic stop nut.

7. The plug of claim 6, said bolt (32) having a circumferential recess(42) adjacent to but slightly spaced from its bolt head (34), and anO-ring (44) in and extending from said bolt circumferential recess 42)against the adapter (19) aperture wall.

8. The plug of claim 7, and a washer (46) between said elastic stop nut(38) and the adjacent flange portion (22) surface, the transom drainhole (14) having a metal sleeve (16) lining it, said O-rings (26) insaid cylindrical portions (20) sealing against said metal lining sleeve(16), the bolt threaded portion (36) and elastic stop nut (38) extendinginto the inner boat side of the transom (12).

1. For use in a boat transom (12) having a drain hole (14); a drain holeplug (18) comprising a pair of apertured (28) adapters (19), one of saidadapters (19) fitting partially into each of the opposite sides of saiddrain hole (14) and also fitting partially against the opposite sides ofthe boat transom (12), a threaded (36) bolt (32) fitted through theadapters (19) in the drain hole (14), and a nut (38) threaded on saidbolt (14) holding said adapters (19) in the drain hole (14), said bolt(32) having its head (34) on one side of the boat transom (12) and saidthreaded nut (38) being on the other side of the boat transom, wherebysimualtaneous operation on the bolt head (34) and the threaded nut (38)by one individual inside the boat transom (12) and by another individualoutside the boat transom is necessary to remove the plug (18) from thedrain hole (14).
 2. The plug of claim 1, said adapters (19) havingstepped flanges (22) abutting the outer surfaces of the transom (12). 3.The plug of claim 1, each said adapter (19) having a cylindrical portion(20) fitting into the drain hole (14), and a stepped flange portion (22)abutting a surface of the transom (12).
 4. The plug of claim 3, theadded lengths of said cylindrical portions (22) being not greater thanthe thickness of the transom (12) at the drain hole (14).
 5. The plug ofclaim 4, each cylindrical portion (20) having a circumferential recess(24) and an O-ring (26) in and extending from said recess (24) providinga substantial seal against the drain hole (14) wall.
 6. The plug ofclaim 5, said nut (38) being threaded on said bolt (32) against oneflange portion (22), the bolt head (34) abutting against the otherflange portion (22), said nut being an elastic stop nut.
 7. The plug ofclaim 6, said bolt (32) having a circumferential recess (42) adjacent tobut slightly spaced from its bolt head (34), and an O-ring (44) in andextending from said bolt circumferential recess (42) against the adapter(19) aperture wall.
 8. The plug of claim 7, and a washer (46) betweensaid elastic stop nut (38) and the adjacent flange portion (22) surface,the transom drain hole (14) having a metal sleeve (16) lining it, saidO-rings (26) in said cylindrical portions (20) sealing against saidmetal lining sleeve (16), the bolt threaded portion (36) and elasticstop nut (38) extending into the inner boat side of the transom (12).